THE GOLF IS OPTIONAL, THE MIRTH IS REQUIRED! The only blog detailing PSU Track and Field, (not always great!) Golf, Physics topics and great videos at the same time! An eclectic mish-mash (mess) of just about everything imaginable. Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers have honored PSU Track/XC, Coach Harry Groves and abused golf courses throughout Happy Valley since 2002. Help spread the word!

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"Friendship, physics, and philosophy---this blog has it all."

-Anonymous, 2011.

"I enjoy what you are doing with this blog. It is truly the only reason to have a Facebook account."-Darryl Jones.

"Light yourself on fire and then roll in broken glass to put out the fire!"-from Isaiah Harris's Twitter Feed, explaining how to replicate the feeling after an 800M race."Even pit bulls call him Coach."-Brian Mount, reacting to a visit to Coach Groves from Hunter Backenstose's pit bull, Blanche.

"Keep up the great work."-Nick Scarpello, after winning the 2016 Carlsbad 5K.

"Goodbye to all that. (Politics) I am turning into Jeremiah Johnson, a shunner."-Rob Whiteside, walking the Appalachian Trail.

"I'd rather see you laying in a gutter with your head split open than to see you run like that." -Coach Groves, following a poor showing of 800M runners at a Beaver Stadium Meet, late 70's.

"You do a fantastic job."-Phil Caraher.

"You are amazing at blogging."-Walt Chadwick.

"Best blog out there."-Phil Passen.

"...it tops all sites I've seen with its sense of humor."-George Brose, author of the website Once Upon a Time in the Vest, about our humble blog.

"Great post as usual DFB!"-Darryl Jones.

"You just don't f*** with a f*****."-sage advice from Coach Groves, as told to Tim Backenstose and me, 5/17/14.

"When I was a kid, I saw an illegal dice game in the bathroom at Franklin Field."-Matthew Groves, 2013, remembering the Penn Relays Carnival.

"Don't sit next to Balkey and Artie at a track meet...You'll end up talking about hockey for 3 hours."-Coach Groves to Rebecca Donaghue, 2013.

"The first 45 mile week I ever ran, I ran in the first 3 days at PSU- Thank you very much, Bruce Baden!"-Larry Mangan, 2012.

"If it takes longer than a paragraph, you don't have anything to say anyway."-Coach Grovesat the 2012 Track Alumni Dinner"If you can't get excited for The Penn Relays than damn it, you aint got no soul!"-Coach Groves, as reported by Matt Lincoln at the 2012 Penn Relays.

"Athletics is for education and recreation, nothing else. Winning is important only in that you learn more."-Coach Harry Groves, 5/21/2011 at the Alumni "Run"."... for a brief time, I'm the greatest Track Coach in the world."-Coach Harry Groves, at his Retirement 2006.

"You must do something about the cheating!"-Coach Harry Groves, after golfing two holes with each foursome in 2009.

Actually, all 4 of them went into the store and found their items. When they saw the store unattended, they put the money on the counter, complete with the appropriate taxes, waved at the surveillance cameras, and went on their way.

Good for them. But the true test is when someone is in the same situation, alone, and without surveillance cameras. Because my parents and Penn State coaches instilled in me to always do the right thing. Fifty-three years of existence on this Earth have also taught me that nothing is more valuable than one's own conscience. And I'll face the next world knowing at least that part of me will pass muster.

The closest I have come to these was being at The Vet with my dad and brother when Pete Rose tied Stan Musial for the National League hit crown. He was matched against the Astros Nolan Ryan that day and "The Express" struck him out 3 straight times after that, something Pete only had happen twice in his career. The Baseball Strike started the next day, so Pete had to wait.

The return of "A Day on the Bay" with Captain Tim Backenstose is going forward without me. Luckily, Group Founder and Keeper of the Beer Clark Haley and Director of Corporate Espionage Gary Black wlil be there to document things. That is, unless they drown each other in the process! There will also be members of other eras along for the tour and its aftermath. Can't wait for photos and video! Coach Groves stories are on the agenda. But then again, aren't they always?

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Most familiar with me know I'm not nearly the optimist I aspire to on this blog (sometimes with little success!). I, in fact, can veer severely to the opposite side. One thing that always drags me back is the wonderful experience I had as part of "The Team" at PSU. Over the years I have learned that I vastly underestimated the intelligence and uniqueness of just about everyone else involved with the team. It is truly inspiring to see the heights those affiliated with PSU Track in every era attain in so many divergent aspects of life. Confidant, competitive, cerebral and compassionate all come to mind. It gives me optimism for the future the world would otherwise steal from me.

It is with that optimism that I look forward to another year of great XC and Track.

*On the pessimistic side I will note I'm dismayed at the younger set's dependence on their cell phones and their continuance of the low-rise pants that just won't fit an out-of-shape type like me. But that's just splitting hairs. Good luck, all of you.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Adopted PSU Track and Field Alumni Golfer Ryan Whiting made no bones about wanting to win the World Championships this year. He certainly put the work in at PSU's wonderful facilities, as anyone who followed him can attest. Ryan came in second in the Shot Put at the IAFF World Championships yesterday. I congratulate him on this great achievement with a little bit of perspective relying on Metaphysics.

This will be the greatest motivator ever to make him even better than he already is. It will focus him like nothing else ever has. It will make him even more thankful for his family and friends, something he shows no lack of already! In other words, I think this will push Ryan to heights (distances!) he otherwise would never have attained. I hope the PSU Track Alumni (Golfing) family plays a part in all of that.

And don't forget Ryan, You are already invited to join us on the links at the next Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament in May 2014!

Warm Ups in Russia, although it looks like Wrigley Field in this photo.

Compare this 1,500 pounds (3 x 500 pounds) of lifting with my PR of 120 pounds x 1! And I'll bet Ryan can beat me in a 5K right now too!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

In our recent discussions in the comment section of another post, the question came up "How does a marathon help an 800M/Miler?" As B. Obama has stated, this is "above my pay grade" and I won't deign to answer definitively. I will add, however, that I suspect the answer is "yes" it does, but I'll let others chime in via the comments.

Coach Groves obviously thought so in 1978, as all those with their primary distance specialty being a mile or over had to run the entire Nittany Valley Track Club Marathon in February, just after the bulk of the indoor season was over. The Half-Milers had to run 15 miles, which probably ticked them off enough as it was.

I think we had some pretty good performances from just about everybody after that, and I don't remember any serious injuries or illnesses from it.

Was Coach Groves Brilliant or a Dunce? (about the mandatory marathon only!)

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

I think Steve Walsh must have learned something from Coach Groves in his 4 years in Happy Valley. His recent Coach of the Year Award in Track and Field for the Colonial Athletic Conference was his third in the same sports year, a record. He also became the first coach to win Mens and Womens Awards in the same season. Congrats to a great runner, a fine golfer, and obviously a heck of a coach!

CAC Freshman of the Year Bob Smutsky and 3-time Coach of the Year Stephen Walsh.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

With Tyler McCandless not here to defend his title, Kyle Dawson stepped up to win the Sea Isle City Beach Run with a spectacular performance. The conditions were decent on the weather front, but the newly dredged sand made it quite a challenge in the southern leg of the 10 mile tour of the beach. I have not seen anyone in as good shape at the end of this particular race in 20 years.

Kyle had strategically placed members of our group for verbal support at several places along the course and didn't fail to delight any of them. The photos I took seem to be stuck on my balky phone and I'll get around to posting them when I can.

Friend of the group Bill Kehner completed his 36th race in a row, followed with my wife's 20th straight effort. Those 20 years have come despite fractures, surgery, childbirth and even worse health events. It seems nothing can stop her! The Great Bile also made the run from Manhattan for a return to the event after a 2-year layoff. Both Barb and our William and Mary connection Brian Mount beat last year's time by more than a minute. All in all, a pretty good day.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Steve Shisler has put a call out to join a Masters XC team for this year's USTAF Championships in Flemington NJ on Saturday October 20. Top notch talent is already on board with Nick Kello and Mark Hawkins already on board with Steve. Let's put PSU Alumni on top where we belong! I had some pleasant childhood memories at the Flemington Diner which has been resurrected.

Artie Gilkes, our Director of Youth Development, sent me the link to the Running Times article featuring a great photo of Kevin (Brian!)Fuller leading the pack in another race. He's wearing his Alumni Singlet with his trademark red shorts. At least I think it's Kevin and not Mark or Brian(Kevin). Heck, I can never keep them straight. They always seem to be together. Which delights this curmudgeon as much as anything on Earth!

There has also been a bunch of submissions and comments about our post on the Distance Alumni Records. I will be putting together another post trying to compile all the records at even the non-standard distances. Keep the submissions coming.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Mark Covert ended his streak after 45 years and one day. His right foot finally gave out completely after hobbling for years. He related that after 2 days, he felt much better!

Mark Covert's "Last" Run

My current streak is at 219 days, slightly less than his. But I have crossed the 70,000 total miles mark with my 70,219. That's more than 5 miles/day since July 1975, which isn't bad for a schlub like me. Mark has more than 170,000 miles on his mangled foot. And remember, some of those early miles were with the likes of our very own Greg Fredericks at Nationals. Hats off to Mark.

Here's a pic of my new updated workout room with 2 treadmills! My wife picked up a like-new Smooth Fitness 9.35HR Treadmill at a local Thrift Store for $300. She dismantled it, and reassembled it in our workout room all by herself. I did help move it, so I'm not a total clod. I'm about to take the first run on it to give my trusty steed Lifefitness 9500 HR a rest.* Maybe I'll do a review of my own of both in a upcoming post.

My Lifefitness 9500 HR and new Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR

*Yes, I do know how lame it is to do most of my runs on a treadmill now!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Brian Boyer has just been awarded with what he calls "a lifetime achievement award of sorts"! He has received the 2013 Edway R. Johnson Meritorious Service Award from the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management recognizing a long-term outstanding contribution to the INMM by an INMM member as
well as the individual's noteworthy accomplishments and contributions to
the profession.

Brian graciouslyacknowledges PSU profs and even us lowly schlubs who jogged with him back in the day. I hereby congratulate our "Official Physicist" (I know, he's really a Nuclear Engineer!). Well done, Brian.

And do Physicists "Prove" that Insane Bolt is drug free?

That's what they seem to be saying in this"Physics" of Usain Bolt" article. I'll hold my breath. These facts are more reliable in the article:

Only 8% of the energy Bolt expended in the race was used
for motion; the rest was to overcome the aerodynamic drag of his large
frame, explains InsideScience.

His maximum power
output came less than a second into the race; figure about 3.5
horsepower, or enough to power a "large vacuum cleaner," reports PopSci.

His top speed came about 7 seconds into the race at around 27 mph.

Even
without the slight tailwind he had that day in 2009, he would have
busted the record with a speed of 9.68 seconds, say the physicists.